Bliss

This photo cracks me up!

Springtime photography by Amy

:-)

Enjoy!

Prayers for this family

This past week I was deeply saddened for my former piano teacher's loss of her husband. Although I haven't seen or talked with the family members for several years, I will always remember Mr. Huebert's very encouraging words at piano performances at their church. God be with their family....

Oh dear!

Apparently I was in the local newspaper today, along with Ella! YIKES! That's not really what a pregnant lady wants to hear LOL!

The kids, Grandpa (my dad), and I went to a kids thing at a local branch of a state college...we attended a sing a long, and got photographed! I asked Richie- how did I look? He said, fine. UH oh. LOL. FINE. Sound good? NOT to me. Really though I don't care. We don't have a copy but hopefully someone will give us one. That usually happens.

Hoping for a calm week. We would really appreciate one. Off to get kids to bed..hopefully tomorrow I can post some pics of the kids I took today. I am VERY pleased with them. CANNOT wait to share!

This just got me

Hormones I suppose but this little shirt is so darn cute. Wish I could get it, but not probably. And that's alright...I love the darling phrase. What a lovely thought. Could be a lovely thought about many things, actually. God. A sunny day. A good friend. A good dinner (lost mine btw but tomorrow is another day).

Sniff Sniff sniff.

SCORE!

Philip and I went to a used book sale today and got lots of books (all within 10 cents to 1.00 but more of the 10 cent-30 cent range!!)..and I found the book I actually WENT to find: Morris Goes To School.

Anyone remember that from yesteryears (or, well, 20 years ago or so, elementary aged). It was my fav as a little reader. About a moose who, yeah, goes to school! I wanted it soooooooooo bad and it was there! Go figure!!

Tried to leave, I guess they wanted me to stay and buy more books.

My car wouldn't start.

Some elderly gentlemen helped get it started...but praying that it won't be much to get a new battery or whatever. AND I did NOT leave my lights on. LOL!

Anywhoo....we're home now, picked up Ella a little late, but it's alright.

This was neat. It's neat to find out how things in your life affect other people.

I was talking with a lady at the small group of women that meet on Wednesdays, from the Gate. We connected the dots, so to speak, as we know each other and family from Old North. Alrighty here's the neat story:

When I was a senior, I visited Asbury College in KY and actually did get accepted for Piano Performance. One of the recruiters came up to Old North to give a little talk about the college to the youth group. This lady from the small group had a son that ended up being interested. We both and the recruiter had lunch together..but here's the thing. I ended up NOT going to Asbury but HE did! AND, he met his future wife there. I thought, wow....that was really exciting to hear...my life was going one way but turned out to really point someone else that direction. And I stayed home for college. And met my guy via Beth, Mike, Kimmy and Kevin, kinda all in that order. Alright. So there you go...God works in all ways.

Syesha what a performance!

What a Broadway star she SHOULD be!!!!!!!!!!!!




LOVED THIS by David Cook as well!

Syesha what a performance!

What a Broadway star she SHOULD be!!!!!!!!!!!! Youtube show coming later!

Finally

we are members of the community center!!! and we went swimming today, the kids and I, this morning. They had a blast. We walked, since it's just a couple blocks away. I did promise Ella that we'd go after school, but I'm tired! LOL! Maybe we'll wait and see if daddy wants to go too. Anyways, just glad to have that all set up. I know that this summer, I'm going to need this membership to survive hot days! I'm THINKING (stress THINKING) of having Philip's birthday party there so I don't have to do anything. And, really, I wouldn't have to do ANYTHING, even games. The kids would just swim. Pizza, pop, and paper products are all provided. We'll see. I have to decide quickly, as his birthday is May 2nd, and it'd probably be the following weekend for a party, IF it's open. And, more good news, I feel so much better today. Wondering if it's a psychological thing, being as Monday's are bad days of feeling sick, and well, as a Tuesday, it's so much better. I guess I'll have to think of Mondays as, um, Fridays? LOL!

I really don't think we need Mondays anymore!

Just kidding.

But, really, I am deflected all calls every Monday from now until ? b/c Monday's are my WORST not feel good days. It's been TOUGH. I was so close to losing my lunch for a couple hours, but thankfully, I was able to rest quietly on my grandma's bed for awhile. I usually don't take her up on those offers, but today, yes.

Ella and I had lunch with Lisa and Abigail at the Bean and when I got to my grandparents to pick Philip up,, well, I just got on gram's bed and laid down. LOL! She was probably like, what's going on? Well, the kids had so more fun, and I got to rest. Then we pushed to the store. AND YUCKY. That's how I feel. I that's why I will not blog anymore today b/c like I said before, who wants to hear that?

Sending lots of love and prayers to my blog readers. I really appreciate all of you!

Turning 5 today

Today is a special day for our little girl! She had a party yesterday, but today was that actual special day. Can't believe how time flies.

The end of the week for me was very VERY busy (Ella had a friend over, had to shop for gifts and last minute party things, groceries, just STUFF). Whew. I am exhausted. After the party yesterday I came home and went to bed. WENT TO BED. I napped, then napped again, and napped again, and went to sleep. Exhaustion is still with me. It was hard to go to church today, but I made it. My stomach was off a bit too but it actually has been a bit better- if not from being so busy and running around so much, I don't know for sure.

Anyways, here are some photos from the storybook princess party...I planned several activities for the girls and it all worked out perfectly. They played hot potatoe with cinderella's slipper, and when the music stopped, that person was out but got to pick out a piece of cinderella slipper sidewalk chalk. HOW COOL IS THAT? And, they decorated foam books I put together with foam princessy stickers I found. We also "pinned" Rapunzel's hair on her (i drew a photo of a princess w/o hair in a castle and then drew, painted, and cut out long locks of hair (wig-like) for the game). That was cute. They liked that game too. Then, we had the girls sit on a "pea" under a cushion on a special chair and get sprinkled with princess dust. The "pea" was a golf ball painted green. LOL. I found that idea online somewhere. HAD TO DO IT! Then, I had created bingo cards with princess things on them, and we played Bingo. They had a blast. Other favors were princess stickers, notebooks, wands, organza bags with heart and bell charms (also doubled as bingo markers), and crowns. Then came pizza and other things such as wonderful chicken salad my gram brought, and fruit and veggies my mom put together. My sister in law, Jessica, made the cake. I had her create a storybook cake...loved doing this theme. The cake was YUMMY! Ella had 7 friends/cousins come, and that was a perfect number of children. The icing on the cake, haha, was when Ella's preschool teacher came (she had invited her back in January! LOL!) and per my request previously, read a story. What a grand reader she is. But, of course she would be! That was a special memory.

Today at church, my brother and his family visited. And, one of my sister in law's friends, Kim, also came. They are MOVING to the area (big announcement!) b/c my brother got a job around here and it's a wonderful thing. They are church hunting and I know wherever they go will be the right spot for them. Please be praying that they can quickly find the house they want and sell their other one.

I have been so behind on blogging. Not sure when I'll pop in again, but hopefully sometime. It seems that so much has changed lately that I would really like to talk more, but I am really spent these day. Gee, wonder why! Reminds me that we had an ultrasound Thursday. Everything is great. Due date is Nov. 22, just days before Thanksgiving!

I just need...

a friend today.

Anyone??????!!!!!!!

Just a thought, a call, or encouragement. yep. maybe!?

Probably - I'd feel better if

I could just throw up.

Yuck.

It's been really neat, on a happier note, to run into people at the church we've been attending as of late (THE GATE), which is a church plant from a church I had attended for 10 years, through jr high, high school, and college. Anyways, yeah....some distant, related by family family members, and then a cousin -that I had met before- of a school friend. Great church BTW.

If I could feel better I could accomplish the things I need to do- like spring cleaning-out (meaning, decluttering/purging of stuff we don't really need). But, well, not so today. Again, YUCK. Yucky. Eww.

Fiercely Mad

Michael Johns was the IDOL that was sent home...GRRRR....

SO WRONG!!!

Idol Gave Back...and this was the last song!!!!

Shout to the Lord..could NOT believe it!!!!


and one of my favs from this past week..hope he stays. singing Over the Rainbow, ukelele version- have always loved the original ukelele versions, myself.


one of my favs of the whole season. LOVE brooke white. SHe's real!


and this...love her piano...let it be


okay..to keep it going..here's another fav of mine, Michael Johns!!!! We will rock you/we are the champions:


and another I liked:


and my last idol fav, david cook


a lil softer song he sang, Little Sparrow:


oops..and David A of course, too (IMAGINE):

That song was BEAUTIFUL.

I just don't feel well

so who wants to hear that every day? that's why I don't blog anymore. someday when I am not throwing up, feeling like I need to throw up, and then eating well enough to not feel sick and weak, well, then I'll blog again! LOL! the 19th is Ella's bday party and the 20th her bday so I'm gearing up for that. 2 weeks after that is buddy's bday and then a week later, his party. anywho. i am off blogland again. really don't feel like being here blogging. until another day...

still here

finally had a better day yesterday- made pizza and pies.

enjoyed the sunshine

took a walk

started switching seasons closet-wise

reading a good book (the Bible) and another great book, about parenting.

Have a great day!

If you have a Polaroid Instant Camera

you may want to just throw it away!! Here is why. That certain film is not going to be manufactured any longer.

Anyways, let the "morning sickness" begin! LOL! It lasts all day, and has seemed to hit, well, morning, til night! Though last night it was quite near 3 am before I fell asleep, not sure why, but I didn't. I have to go to the store tomorrow- hope I don't get trample upon by all the other grocery shoppers. Then, I hope to hit another store so I can get a dress for church that will fit. Something springy, but I suppose maybe not, since it's still quite cold.

The Russell/Simplican side of the family here will be very busy come fall, because my sister in law Valerie (Rich's youngest sister) is due the very end of October. We found that out today! The cousins will be very close.

The kids are very excited about the happenings of Easter. I must break out the Veggie Tale Easter Carol DVD tomorrow, so they can watch it. I forgot all about it this week, though I've been telling them the very important reason for celebrating Easter.

My honey brought me home a candy bar. Yeah- that got him some Brownie Points, though, not that he needed any, b/c he's the best!

Oh, and blech..this is right up there with Beth's bloody egg tale and photo.....a nice flexible tongue depressor like thing was in a piece of something I got from a fast food place (yeah - I was nauseated but I had this certain FOOD in my MIND!), and it totally grossed me out even more for the rest of the day. It may have been part of a utensil? I don't know, and I really don't care. BLECH. EWWW. GROSSS. No more fast food for me for a looooooooooong time!!!

Upcoming wonderful beautiful movie

Like Dandelion Dust. from a book by Karen Kingsbury. GO and read this book (read all her books, really). They make you cry, they make you happy, they just make you a better person, I feel.

Check a bit of what the movie will be like, to be released in theaters SOON I hope, check it out here.

Well, I have been close mouthed about some things...

some changes, really.

The first: We feel that God is leading us to a different church. We have stopped attending our beloved place of worship altogether. We had two weekends of family time. Next week, we'll go to my parents' small country church. After that, I am not sure. I am praying that God will lead us to where he wants us to be. It's been touching, with a few letters, not cards but LETTERS with meaningful and heartfelt words, coming in the mail, and some phone calls from friends, saying they miss us. Oh..this was tough. I miss the wonderful "family" from that church...but, Rich and I really do feel this is where the Lord is leading us for now.

The second: WE are expecting a new Russell baby in the fall, a week or two before Thanksgiving!!!! I am so excited, to say the least. I feel a bit silly since I already have to wear maternity clothes! Unbelievable! We told Ella and Philip last night and they are very excited. Ella has been so sweet, and was very interested in knowing more about babies, and how they grow. So, I'm trying to explain! LOL! I feel VERY blessed.


I KNEW it was just nerves. I did the typing test mentioned on a friend's blog..maybe it could be my once claim to fame..well, maybe not! Got up to 105 wpm!!!! If you want to go try, go here.